, 1887-04-28
MIR. CLEVELAND IN TRAINING.


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The recent publication by WASH
ington physician Of a solemn warning
to the president that he was grow
ing too stout for health has had the
effect OF stirring up lively row In
the District medical society, where
the DOCTORS public interference with
the case of man who by right "be-
longed" to another physician, Is de-
nounced as "unprofessional," and
also of bringing out in most guard
ed manner, through the agency OF
Col. Lamont, the fact that Mr.. Cleve-
land has been in training for the last
ten months. The executive trainer
Is an Englishman, an employe In
one OF the departments, who Is
scientific boxer, and regularly three
times a week he presents himself at
the white house and puts the chief
magistrate through for an hour or
more. In the upper story OF the ex-
ecutive mansion a room has been
prepared as gynasium, and 1t Is In
this apartment that the presidential
exercise is taken. From the ceiling
hang two ropes with rings in the
end, to reach which Mr.. Cleveland
must stand on tip-toe. Having gain
ed a firm hold, he pulls himself up,
swings, tries to kick the ceiling,
turns handspring In the air,
and lets go only when he is short
of breath and is blowing like a
porpoise. Then there are dumb
bells, clubs and other things too
numerous to mention, with which
the president amuses himself for an
hour. On the. evenings that his
trainer is present the exercises gem
orally consist Of glove fights. Both
put on the mittens, upholstered with
pillows, and go ut each other hammer
and tongs. Being the heavier man
Of tho two, the president would be
apt to knock the trainer through
window, were 1t not for the fact that
the latter has science on his side,
and Is able, when hard pushed, to
slog the chief magistrate Of the
United States in a way that would
be highly alarming to his fellow-cit-
izens If they did not understand that
the whole thing was in fun. AS a
result of these exercises, the presi-
dent has reduced his weight by
seventeen pounds since the first OF
January, and he expects by another
fall, after he shall have had few
weeks of outing, to get himself down
certainly to the heavyweight mark,
and possibly to that Of the middle
weight.
Leaving the doctors of the district
to settle their own quarrel with
their brother who wantonly inter-
fered with the possessions OF
another, contrary to the ethics of
the profession, the public will be
glad of the temerity which has re-
suited in the discovery that the
president is training down and be-
coming handy with his fists. The
fat man is generally safe counselor,
a good citizen and an eminently
conservative officeholder. Unlike
his lean and hungry brother, he is
not prone to treason, stratagem and
spoils. Though he may lard the
lean earth as he walks, and suffer
the physical disquiet attendant upon
great bulk not only, but be appre-
hensive of apoplexy and sudden
death. he is substantial citizen,
good to look upon and unctuous to
the last degree. But for a BRIDE
groom and a president he will not do.
His ponderosity Is made by-word
and shaking of the head. Chairs
do not fit him and his tailor gives
him up in despair. The romance OF
youth departs from him.. and the
dreams of greatness resolve them
selves into too realistic memories of
solid flesh and illimitable waist
bands. Let the gymnastic attach
ment of the government be contin-
ued, and if the Englishman in
charge thereof needs any help in
polishing off the patient let him call
in some of the old-line democrats
who are yearning for an opportunity
to "stop" him.